Records of Shu 10: Biographies of Liu Feng, Peng Yang, Liao Li, Li Yan, Liu Yan, Wei Yan and Yang Yi

Records of Shu 10: Biographies of Liu Feng, Peng Yang, Liao Li, Li Yan, Liu Yan, Wei Yan and Yang Yi

Liu Feng

劉封

Liu Feng was originally a son of the Kou family, Marquises of Luo, and a nephew on his mother’s side of the Liu family of Changsha. When the First Ruler came to Jing Province, having as yet no heir, he raised Liu Feng as his son. When the First Ruler entered Shu and turned back from Jiameng to attack Liu Zhang, Liu Feng was a little over twenty; he had martial skill and strength beyond other men, and he led troops upstream to the west together with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and others, winning battles wherever they went. When Yi Province had been pacified, Liu Feng was made General of the Household Assisting the Army.

劉封者，本羅侯寇氏之子，長沙劉氏之甥也。先主至荊州，以未有繼嗣，養封為子。及先主入蜀，自葭萌還攻劉璋，時封年二十餘，有武藝，氣力過人，將兵俱與諸葛亮、張飛等溯流西上，所在戰克。益州既定，以封為副軍中郎將。

Earlier, Liu Zhang had sent Meng Da of Fufeng as Fa Zheng’s deputy, each leading two thousand troops, to welcome the First Ruler. The First Ruler then had Meng Da take command of both their forces and left him to garrison Jiangling. After Shu was pacified, Meng Da was made Prefect of Yidu. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an, Meng Da was ordered to attack Fangling northward from Zigui, and Kuai Qi, Prefect of Fangling, was killed by Meng Da’s troops. When Meng Da was about to advance on Shangyong, the First Ruler privately feared that Meng Da could hardly be trusted with the task alone, so he sent Liu Feng down the Mian from Hanzhong to take command of Meng Da’s army, and Liu Feng joined Meng Da at Shangyong.

初，劉璋遣扶風孟達副法正，各將兵二千人，使迎先主，先主因令達並領其眾，留屯江陵。蜀平後，以達為宜都太守。建安二十四年，命達從秭歸北攻房陵，房陵太守蒯祺為達兵所害。達將進攻上庸，先主陰恐達難獨任，乃遣封自漢中乘沔水下統達軍，與達會上庸。

Shen Dan, Prefect of Shangyong, surrendered with all his followers and sent his wife, children and clan to Chengdu. The First Ruler added to Shen Dan the title of General Who Conquers the North and let him keep his posts as Prefect of Shangyong and Marquis of Yuanxiang as before; he made Shen Dan’s younger brother Shen Yi General Who Establishes Trust and Prefect of Xicheng, and promoted Liu Feng to General Assisting the Army. After Guan Yu laid siege to Fancheng and Xiangyang, he repeatedly called on Liu Feng and Meng Da, ordering them to send troops to help him. Liu Feng and Meng Da declined on the grounds that the mountain commanderies had only just submitted and could not be unsettled, and they did not obey Guan Yu’s orders.

上庸太守申耽舉眾降，遣妻子及宗族詣成都。先主加耽征北將軍，領上庸太守員鄉侯如故，以耽弟儀為建信將軍、西城太守，遷封為副軍將軍。自關羽圍樊城、襄陽，連呼封、達，令發兵自助。封、達辭以山郡初附，未可動搖，不承羽命。

Then Guan Yu was defeated and destroyed, and the First Ruler resented them for it. Moreover, Liu Feng and Meng Da quarreled angrily and were at odds, and soon Liu Feng took away Meng Da’s band of drums and pipes. Meng Da, fearing punishment and also furious with Liu Feng, submitted a memorial taking leave of the First Ruler and surrendered to Wei with the troops under his command. Emperor Wen of Wei admired Meng Da’s gifts, talent and bearing; he made him Regular Mounted Attendant and General Who Establishes Martial Might, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Pingyang Village. He combined the three commanderies of Fangling, Shangyong and Xicheng into Xincheng Commandery and had Meng Da serve as Prefect of Xincheng.

會羽覆敗，先主恨之。又封與達忿爭不和，封尋奪達鼓吹。達既懼罪，又忿恚封，遂表辭先主，率所領降魏。 ¹魏文帝善達之姿才容觀，以為散騎常侍、建武將軍，封平陽亭侯。合房陵、上庸、西城三郡為新城郡，以達領新城太守。

Xiahou Shang, General Who Conquers the South, and Xu Huang, General of the Right, were sent with Meng Da to attack Liu Feng. Meng Da wrote to Liu Feng, saying: “The ancients had a saying: ‘The distant do not come between the close, and the new do not take precedence over the old.’ This means that when those above are clear-sighted and those below upright, slander and wickedness do not prevail. Yet under scheming lords and crafty rulers, and even under worthy fathers and loving parents, there have still been loyal ministers who met disaster for their merits and filial sons who fell into ruin while holding to benevolence. Wen Zhong, Shang Yang, Bai Qi, Xiaoji and Boqi were all of this kind.”

遣征南將軍夏侯尚、右將軍徐晃與達共襲封。達與封書曰：古人有言：『疏不間親，新不加舊。 』此謂上明下直，讒慝不行也。若乃權君譎主，賢父慈親，猶有忠臣蹈功以罹禍，孝子抱仁以陷難，種、商、白起、孝己、伯奇，皆其類也。

“The reason for this was not that kin by blood love to part or that relatives delight in misfortune. Sometimes favor shifts and affection changes, and sometimes slanderers drive a wedge between them, so that even a loyal minister cannot change his lord’s mind and even a filial son cannot alter his father’s. When power and profit are at stake, kin are turned into enemies—how much more those who are not kin! Thus Shensheng, Ji of Wei, Yukou and Jian of Chu had received their bodies and breath from their fathers and stood in the rightful place of succession, and yet it was so with them.”

其所以然，非骨肉好離，親親樂患也。或有恩移愛易，亦有讒間其間，雖忠臣不能移之於君，孝子不能變之於父者也。勢利所加，改親為讎，況非親親乎！故申生、衛伋、禦寇、楚建禀受形之氣，當嗣立之正，而猶如此。

“Now you and the King of Hanzhong are no more than strangers met on the road. You are not his flesh and blood, yet you hold power; you are not bound to him as subject to lord, yet you occupy a high position. When you go on campaign you wield the authority of an independent command, and when you stay at home you bear the title ‘Assisting the Army’—this is known far and near. Since A Dou was made Crown Prince, men of discernment have felt a chill in their hearts on your behalf. Had Shensheng followed the advice of Ziyu, he would surely have become a Taibo; had Ji of Wei listened to his younger brother’s plan, he would not have been blamed for exposing his father’s fault.”

今足下與漢中王，道路之人耳，親非骨血而據勢權，義非君臣而處上位，徵則有偏任之威，居則有副軍之號，遠近所聞也。自立阿斗為太子已來，有識之人相為寒心。如使申生從子輿之言，必為太伯；衛伋聽其弟之謀，無彰父之譏也。

“Moreover, Xiaobai fled abroad and returned to become hegemon, and Chong’er escaped over a wall and in the end recovered his state. Such things have happened since antiquity; it is not only so today.”

且小白出奔，入而為霸；重耳踰垣，卒以克復。自古有之，非獨今也。

“Wisdom prizes escaping disaster, and clear sight values early understanding. I surmise that the King of Hanzhong has settled his thoughts within and that suspicion has arisen toward those without. When thoughts are settled the heart is firm; when suspicion arises the heart is fearful. The outbreak of disorder and calamity has never failed to spring from the deposing and setting up of heirs. Private resentment is human nature and cannot help but show itself, and I fear there are surely those at his side who will come between you and the King of Hanzhong. Then, once suspicion has hardened and resentment reaches his ears, its release will be like stepping on a trap. Now you are far away and can still catch your breath for a time; but if the great army advances and you lose your foothold and have to go back, I fear for you.”

夫智貴免禍，明尚夙達，僕揆漢中王慮定於內，疑生於外矣；慮定則心固，疑生則心懼，亂禍之興作，未曾不由廢立之間也。私怨人情，不能不見，恐左右必有以間於漢中王矣。然則疑成怨聞，其發若踐機耳。今足下在遠，尚可假息一時；若大軍遂進，足下失據而還，竊相為危之。

“In the past Weizi left Yin and Zhi Guo separated himself from his clan; in escaping trouble and turning their backs on disaster they all acted thus. Now you have abandoned your parents to become another man’s heir—this is not propriety; you know disaster is coming yet you stay—this is not wisdom; you see the right course but doubt it instead of following it—this is not righteousness. You call yourself a man of mettle, yet you do these three things; what is there to esteem? With your talents, if you cast yourself free and come east to succeed the Marquis of Luo, it will not be turning your back on your kin; if you face north and serve a sovereign to set the bonds of order right, it will not be abandoning an old master; if you are angry yet do not cause disorder, and so escape danger and ruin, it will not be a wasted deed.”

昔微子去殷，智果別族，違難背禍，猶皆如斯。 ¹今足下棄父母而為人後，非禮也；知禍將至而留之，非智也；見正不從而疑之，非義也。自號為丈夫，為此三者，何所貴乎？以足下之才，棄身來東，繼嗣羅侯，不為背親也；北面事君，以正綱紀，不為棄舊也；怒不致亂，以免危亡，不為徒行也。

“Furthermore, His Majesty has newly received the mandate by abdication; he empties his heart, humbly makes room at his side, and with virtue draws in those from afar. If you turn around and come over to us, you will not merely stand in the same rank as I, receive a fief of three hundred households and succeed to the state of Luo; you will surely be given the split tally of a great state and become its first enfeoffed lord. His Majesty’s great army, its gongs and drums shaking the land, will shift its capital to Wan and Deng; and if the two enemies are not pacified, the army will have no date for return. You should take this moment to settle on a good plan early.”

加陛下新受禪命，虛心側席，以德懷遠，若足下翻然內向，非但與僕為倫，受三百戶封，繼統羅國而已，當更剖符大邦，為始封之君。陛下大軍，金鼓以震，當轉都宛、鄧；若二敵不平，軍無還期。足下宜因此時早定良計。

“The Changes says, ‘It is advantageous to see the great man,’ and the Odes say, ‘Seek abundant blessings for yourself.’ Go! Now make the effort, and do not be like Hu Tu, who shut his gate and would not come out.”

易有『利見大人』，詩有『自求多福』，行矣。今足下勉之，無使狐突閉門不出。

Liu Feng did not follow Meng Da’s advice.

封不從達言。

Shen Yi rebelled against Liu Feng, and Liu Feng was defeated and fled back to Chengdu. Shen Dan surrendered to Wei; Wei gave him the acting title of General Who Cherishes and Gathers and moved him to live in Nanyang, while Shen Yi was made Prefect of Weixing, enfeoffed as Marquis of Yuanxiang, and stationed at Xunkou. When Liu Feng arrived, the First Ruler reproached him for encroaching on and slighting Meng Da and for failing to rescue Guan Yu. Zhuge Liang, concerned that Liu Feng was hard and fierce and would be difficult to control once the next generation took over, urged the First Ruler to use this occasion to be rid of him. So Liu Feng was granted death and made to take his own life. Liu Feng sighed and said, “I regret that I did not heed the words of Meng Zidu!” The First Ruler shed tears for him.

申儀叛封，封破走還成都。申耽降魏，魏假耽懷集將軍，徙居南陽，儀魏興太守，封員鄉侯，屯洵口。 ¹封既至，先主責封之侵陵達，又不救羽。諸葛亮慮封剛猛，易世之後終難制御，勸先主因此除之。於是賜封死，使自裁。封歎曰：「恨不用孟子度之言！」先主為之流涕。

Meng Da

孟達

Meng Da’s courtesy name was originally Zijing; he changed it to avoid the name of the First Ruler’s uncle, Jing.

達本字子敬，避先主叔父敬，改之。 ¹

Peng Yang

彭羕

Peng Yang, courtesy name Yongnian, was a man of Guanghan. He was eight chi tall and of very imposing appearance. He was arrogant by nature and slighted many people, respecting only Qin Zichi of the same commandery, whom he recommended to the Prefect, Xu Jing, saying: “In ancient times Gaozong dreamed of Fu Yue, King Wen of Zhou sought out Lü Shang, and coming down to the founder of the Han, he took in Li Yiji from among the commoners. This is how emperors and kings have founded their enterprises, handed down their lines, and brought their achievements to glorious completion. Now Your Excellency studies antiquity to establish the supreme standard, truly holds to the will of the spirits, embodies the virtue of Gong Liu, and practices the kindness of ‘cut it not down.’ The song of the Pure Temple begins from this, and the principle of praise and blame arises from this. And yet the six great quills of your wings are not yet complete.”

彭羕字永年，廣漢人。身長八尺，容貌甚偉。姿性驕傲，多所輕忽，惟敬同郡秦子敕，薦之於太守許靖曰：昔高宗夢傅說，周文求呂尚，爰及漢祖，納食其於布衣，此乃帝王之所以倡業垂統，緝熙厥功也。今明府稽古皇極，允執神靈，體公劉之德，行勿翦之惠，清廟之作於是乎始，褒貶之義於是乎興，然而六翮未之備也。

“I humbly observe that the retired scholar Qin Mi of Mianzhu bears the virtue of Shanfu and walks in the uprightness of Master Jun. He pillows his head on stones and rinses his mouth in streams; he chants poems in a tattered padded robe; he rests on the path of benevolence and righteousness and dwells serenely in the realm of the vast spirit. His lofty bearing and principled conduct preserve his integrity without flaw; even the recluses of old could not surpass him. If Your Excellency can bring this man into service, you will surely win renown for loyal and upright counsel; with abundant achievement and rich benefit you will leave your mark and establish merit, and then have your deeds recorded in the royal archives and your fame carried to later ages. Would that not be fine indeed!”

伏見處士綿竹秦宓，膺山甫之德，履雋生之直，枕石漱流，吟詠縕袍，偃息於仁義之途，恬惔於浩然之域，高概節行，守真不虧，雖古人潛遁，蔑以加旃。若明府能招致此人，必有忠讜落落之譽，豐功厚利，建跡立勳，然後紀功於王府，飛聲於來世，不亦美哉！」

Peng Yang served in the province but rose no higher than Writing Assistant; later he was also slandered by many people to the Imperial Protector, Liu Zhang, who had his head shaved and his neck collared and made him a convict laborer. Just then the First Ruler entered Shu and was traveling north upstream. Peng Yang wanted to present his counsel to the First Ruler, so he went to see Pang Tong. Pang Tong did not know Peng Yang and also happened to have guests, but Peng Yang went straight up onto Pang Tong’s couch, lay down, and said to him, “When your guests have gone, I must have a good talk with you.” After Pang Tong’s guests had left, he went over and sat with Peng Yang, but Peng Yang first demanded that Pang Tong give him a meal, and only then did they talk; he stayed on for two nights, and their talk went on for days.

羕仕州，不過書佐，後又為眾人所謗毀於州牧劉璋，璋髡鉗羕為徒隸。會先主入蜀，溯流北行。羕欲納說先主，乃往見龐統。統與羕非故人，又適有賓客，羕徑上統床臥，謂統曰：「須客罷當與卿善談。」統客既罷，往就羕坐，羕又先責統食，然後共語，因留信宿，至於經日。

Pang Tong thought very highly of him, and since Fa Zheng had long known Peng Yang, they recommended him together to the First Ruler. The First Ruler too thought him remarkable and several times had Peng Yang convey military orders and direct the generals; he carried out his missions to satisfaction, and the regard and favor shown him grew by the day. After Chengdu was pacified and the First Ruler took the post of Imperial Protector of Yi Province, he raised Peng Yang to Attendant Officer at Headquarters. Peng Yang had risen from a man who went on foot to stand overnight above the men of the province; his manner became loud and brash, and he grew ever more boastful of the favor he enjoyed.

統大善之，而法正宿自知羕，遂並致之先主。先主亦以為奇，數令羕宣傳軍事，指授諸將，奉使稱意，識遇日加。成都既定，先主領益州牧，拔羕為治中從事。羕起徒步，一朝處州人之上，形色囂然，自矜得遇滋甚。

Although Zhuge Liang received Peng Yang courteously on the surface, inwardly he could not think well of him. He repeatedly told the First Ruler in secret that Peng Yang’s ambitions were large and far-reaching and that it would be hard to keep him safely in hand. Since the First Ruler respected and trusted Zhuge Liang, and also observed Peng Yang’s conduct himself, he gradually came to hold him at a distance and demoted Peng Yang to Prefect of Jiangyang.

諸葛亮雖外接待羕，而內不能善。屢密言先主，羕心大志廣，難可保安。先主既敬信亮，加察羕行事，意以稍疏，左遷羕為江陽太守。

When Peng Yang heard he was to be sent far away, he was privately displeased and went to call on Ma Chao. Ma Chao asked him, “Your talents are outstanding, and our lord treats you with the greatest regard. I thought you would run neck and neck with Kongming, Xiaozhi and the others—how is it that you have been sent out to a small commandery, disappointing what people expected of you?” Peng Yang said, “That old trooper is senile and perverse—what more is there to say!” He also said to Ma Chao, “If you act on the outside and I on the inside, the realm will be no trouble to settle.”

羕聞當遠出，私情不悅，往詣馬超。超問羕曰：「卿才具秀拔，主公相待至重，謂卿當與孔明、孝直諸人齊足並驅，寧當外授小郡，失人本望乎？」羕曰：「老革荒悖，可復道邪！」¹又謂超曰：「卿為其外，我為其內，天下不足定也。」

Ma Chao, a wanderer who had come over to the state, was always anxious and fearful; when he heard Peng Yang’s words he was greatly alarmed and said nothing in reply. After Peng Yang left, Ma Chao reported his words in full in a memorial, and Peng Yang was then arrested and handed over to the authorities.

超羈旅歸國，常懷危懼，聞羕言大驚，默然不答。羕退，具表羕辭，於是收羕付有司。

From prison Peng Yang wrote to Zhuge Liang, saying: “In the past I had dealings with the feudal lords. I judged that Cao Cao was cruel and tyrannical, Sun Quan without principle, and the General Who Spreads Awe benighted and weak; only our lord had the capacity of a hegemon-king with whom one could raise a great enterprise and bring about good government. So I turned about and resolved to act boldly. When his lordship came west, I offered myself through Fa Xiaozhi, and Pang Tong arranged matters between us, so that I was able to call on his lordship at Jiameng. Speaking as plainly as pointing to my palm, I discussed the business of governing the age, expounded the principles of a hegemon-king, and set out the plan for taking Yi Province. His lordship, too, had long since settled his thoughts clearly, and at once he agreed with me, and so he launched the undertaking.”

羕於獄中與諸葛亮書曰：僕昔有事於諸侯，以為曹操暴虐，孫權無道，振威闇弱，其惟主公有霸王之器，可與興業致治，故乃翻然有輕舉之志。會公來西，僕因法孝直自衒鬻，龐統斟酌其間，遂得詣公於葭萌，指掌而譚，論治世之務，講霸王之義，建取益州之策，公亦宿慮明定，即相然贊，遂舉事焉。

“In my home province I could not rise above mediocrity and lived in fear of the net of punishment; then I met with a time of wind and clouds and flying arrows, sought a lord and found one, and my aims and conduct became known. I was raised from among the commoners to be a gentleman of the state, and even undeservedly obtained the title of Flourishing Talent. Who has ever received a greater share of a father’s generous love than this? Would I, in a single morning, go mad and perverse, seek to be minced and pickled, and become the ghost of a disloyal and unrighteous man? The ancients had a saying: to hold the map of the realm in your left hand and cut your own throat with your right is something even a fool would not do.”

僕於故州不免凡庸，憂於罪罔，得遭風雲激矢之中，求君得君，志行名顯，從布衣之中擢為國士，盜竊茂才。分子之厚，誰復過此。¹羕一朝狂悖，自求葅醢，為不忠不義之鬼乎！先民有言，左手據天下之圖，右手刎咽喉，愚夫不為也。

“All the more so since I can at least tell beans from wheat! The reason I harbored resentment was that, failing to take my own measure, I carelessly thought of myself as the one who had first launched the enterprise; then there was talk of sending me out to Jiangyang, and not understanding our lord’s intention, my feelings finally boiled over, and being rather drunk, I rashly let slip the word ‘old.’ This came from my utter foolishness and shallow thinking; our lord is truly not old. Besides, how does founding an enterprise depend on age? The Earl of the West at ninety—did his will ever flag? I have betrayed a loving father, and my crime deserves a hundred deaths.”

況僕頗別菽麥者哉！所以有怨望意者，不自度量，苟以為首興事業，而有投江陽之論，不解主公之意，意卒感激，頗以被酒，侻失『老』語。此僕之下愚薄慮所致，主公實未老也。且夫立業，豈在老少，西伯九十，寧有衰志，負我慈父，罪有百死。

“As for the words about inside and outside, I only wanted Mengqi to win merit in the northern provinces, exert himself for our lord, and join in attacking Cao Cao—how would I dare have any other intention? What Mengqi reported was true, but he failed to distinguish my meaning, and that is what pains me. In the past Pang Tong and I always swore to each other that we would follow in your footsteps, give our whole hearts to our lord’s cause, pursue the fame of the ancients, and have our merits recorded on bamboo and silk. Pang Tong unfortunately died, and I have failed and brought disaster on myself.”

至於內外之言，欲使孟起立功北州，戮力主公，共討曹操耳，寧敢有他志邪？孟起說之是也，但不分別其間，痛人心耳。昔每與龐統共相誓約，庶託足下末踪，盡心於主公之業，追名古人，載勳竹帛。統不幸而死，僕敗以取禍。

“I brought my own fall—whom should I blame? You are the Yi Yin and Lü Shang of this age; you should plan well with our lord and bring his great designs to fulfillment. Heaven is bright and Earth discerning, and the spirits have their power—what more is there to say? I only wish you to understand my true heart. Farewell; strive on, and take care of yourself, take care of yourself!”

自我墮之，將復誰怨！足下，當世伊、呂也，宜善與主公計事，濟其大猷。天明地察，神祇有靈，復何言哉！貴使足下明僕本心耳。行矣努力，自愛，自愛！

Peng Yang was executed in the end, at the age of thirty-seven.

羕竟誅死，時年三十七。

Liao Li

廖立

Liao Li, courtesy name Gongyuan, was a man of Linyuan in Wuling. When the First Ruler took the post of Imperial Protector of Jing Province, he summoned him as an Assistant Officer, and before he was thirty he was promoted to Prefect of Changsha. When the First Ruler had entered Shu and Zhuge Liang was holding Jing Province, Sun Quan sent an envoy to establish friendly relations with Zhuge Liang and took the occasion to ask which of the scholars were his partners in managing affairs. Zhuge Liang answered, “Pang Tong and Liao Li are fine talents of Chu who will help bring about the great work of the age.” In the twentieth year of Jian’an, when Sun Quan sent Lü Meng to take the three southern commanderies by surprise, Liao Li escaped with his life and came back to the First Ruler of his own accord.

廖立¹字公淵，武陵臨沅人。先主領荊州牧，辟為從事，年未三十，擢為長沙太守。先主入蜀，諸葛亮鎮荊土，孫權遣使通好於亮，因問士人皆誰相經緯者，亮答曰：「龐統、廖立，楚之良才，當贊興世業者也。」建安二十年，權遣呂蒙奄襲南三郡，立脫身走，自歸先主。

Since the First Ruler had long known and valued him, he did not reproach him severely, and made him Prefect of Ba Commandery. In the twenty-fourth year, when the First Ruler became King of Hanzhong, he summoned Liao Li to be Palace Attendant. When the Latter Ruler succeeded to the throne, Liao Li was transferred to Colonel of the Changshui.

先主素識待之，不深責也，以為巴郡太守。二十四年，先主為漢中王，徵立為侍中。後主襲位，徙長水校尉。

At heart Liao Li believed that his talent and reputation entitled him to be second only to Zhuge Liang, but instead he was left drifting in idle posts below Li Yan and others, and he was constantly discontented. Later, when Li Shao and Jiang Wan, Clerks to the Chancellor, came to see him, Liao Li reckoned aloud: “The army is about to set out on a distant campaign; you gentlemen should examine this matter carefully. In the past the First Ruler did not take Hanzhong but rushed off to contend with the men of Wu for the three southern commanderies, and in the end gave the three commanderies to the men of Wu; he merely wore out his officers and men and came back with nothing gained.”

立本意，自謂才名宜為諸葛亮之貳，而更遊散在李嚴等下，常懷怏怏。後丞相掾李邵、蔣琬至，立計曰：軍當遠出，卿諸人好諦其事。昔先不取漢中，走與吳人爭南三郡，卒以三郡與吳人，徒勞役吏士，無益而還。

“After Hanzhong was lost, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He were allowed to push deep into Ba, and a whole province was nearly lost. Later, when he went to Hanzhong, Marquis Guan was left to perish with not a man surviving, and with the collapse at Shangyong a whole region was lost for nothing. This was because Guan Yu relied on his reputation for valor, commanded his army without method, and simply charged ahead as he pleased; that is why the army was lost again and again. Men like Xiang Lang and Wen Gong are merely commonplace. Wen Gong served as Attendant Officer at Headquarters without any order or discipline; Xiang Lang once served the Ma Liang brothers and called them sages, and now as Chief Clerk he is ever able to keep in line with the Way.”

既亡漢中，使夏侯淵、張郃深入於巴，幾喪一州。後至漢中，使關侯身死無孑遺，上庸覆敗，徒失一方。是羽怙恃勇名，作軍無法，直以意突耳，故前後數喪師眾也。如向朗、文恭，凡俗之人耳。恭作治中無綱紀；朗昔奉馬良兄弟，謂為聖人，今作長史，素能合道。

“Guo Yanchang, the Gentleman of the Household, is merely a follower of others and unfit to take part in great affairs, yet he has been made Palace Attendant. These are feeble times, and to entrust matters to these three men is wrong. Wang Lian was a vulgar man who resorted to harsh exactions, exhausting and impoverishing the people and bringing us to where we are today.”

中郎郭演長，從人者耳，不足與經大事，而作侍中。今弱世也，欲任此三人，為不然也。王連流俗，苟作掊克，使百姓疲弊，以致今日。

Li Shao and Jiang Wan reported all his words to Zhuge Liang, who submitted a memorial concerning Liao Li: “Liao Li, Colonel of the Changshui, is guilty of self-aggrandizement; he passes judgment on the officials at will, publicly says that the state does not employ the worthy and capable but only vulgar clerks, and also says that the commanders of ten thousand men are all mere boys; he has slandered the late Emperor and disparaged the ministers. When someone remarked that the state’s troops were well selected and trained and its ranks orderly, Liao Li raised his head and stared at the roof, changed color in anger, and shouted, ‘What’s that worth mentioning!’”

郃、琬具白其言於諸葛亮。亮表立曰：「長水校尉廖立，坐自貴大，臧否群士，公言國家不任賢達而任俗吏，又言萬人率者皆小子也；誹謗先帝，疵毀眾臣。人有言國家兵眾簡練，部伍分明者，立舉頭視屋，憤吒作色曰：『何足言！』

“Instances like this are too many to count. Even one sheep that disrupts the flock can do harm; how much more so when Liao Li occupies a high office—how can men of middling ability or less tell truth from falsehood?” Liao Li was accordingly dismissed to commoner status and banished to Wenshan Commandery. He led his wife and children in tilling the land to support himself. When he heard that Zhuge Liang had died, he wept and sighed, “In the end I shall wear my robe folded to the left like a barbarian!” Later, when the Army Supervisor Jiang Wei passed through Wenshan leading a detached force and called on Liao Li, he reported that Liao Li’s spirit had not flagged and that he talked as freely as ever. Liao Li ended his days in the place of his banishment. His wife and children returned to Shu.

凡如是者不可勝數。羊之亂群，猶能為害，況立託在大位，中人以下識真偽邪？」¹於是廢立為民，徙汶山郡。立躬率妻子耕殖自守，聞諸葛亮卒，垂泣歎曰：「吾終為左衽矣！」後監軍姜維率偏軍經汶山、詣立，稱立意氣不衰，言論自若。立遂終徙所。妻子還蜀。

Li Yan

李嚴

Li Yan, courtesy name Zhengfang, was a man of Nanyang. When young he became a clerk in the commandery and was praised for his ability. Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, had him serve in one commandery and county after another. When Lord Cao entered Jing Province, Li Yan was governing Zigui; he then went west to Shu, where Liu Zhang made him Magistrate of Chengdu, and there too he won a name for competence. In the eighteenth year of Jian'an, Liu Zhang appointed Li Yan Army Protector to resist the First Ruler at Mianzhu. Li Yan led his troops to surrender to the First Ruler, and the First Ruler appointed him Lieutenant General.

李嚴字正方，南陽人也。少為郡職吏，以才幹稱。荊州牧劉表使歷諸郡縣。曹公入荊州時，嚴宰秭歸，遂西詣蜀，劉璋以為成都令，復有能名。建安十八年，署嚴為護軍，拒先主於綿竹。嚴率眾降先主，先主拜嚴裨將軍。

After Chengdu was settled, he became Prefect of Qianwei and General Who Promotes the Enterprise. In the twenty-third year, the bandits Ma Qin, Gao Sheng and others rose in Qi County, gathered a force of several tens of thousands, and reached Zizhong County. At that time the First Ruler was in Hanzhong. Li Yan raised no further troops, but led only the five thousand soldiers of the commandery to attack them and beheaded Ma Qin, Gao Sheng and the rest. Their followers scattered like stars and were all returned to the civil registers. Then when Gao Ding, a chieftain of the Yi tribes of Yuexi, sent troops to besiege Xindao County, Li Yan rushed to its rescue, and the rebels were all routed and fled. He was given the added title of General Who Supports Han and continued to govern the commandery as before.

成都既定，為犍為太守、興業將軍。二十三年，盜賊馬秦、高勝等起事於郪，¹合聚部伍數萬人，到資中縣。時先主在漢中，嚴不更發兵，但率將郡士五千人討之，斬秦、勝等首。枝黨星散，悉復民籍。又越巂夷率高定遣軍圍新道縣，嚴馳往赴救，賊皆破走。加輔漢將軍，領郡如故。

In the second year of Zhangwu, the First Ruler summoned Li Yan to Yong'an Palace and appointed him Director of the Secretariat. In the third year, when the First Ruler fell gravely ill, Li Yan and Zhuge Liang together received his testamentary edict to assist the young sovereign. Li Yan was made Protector-General of the Center, in command of military affairs within and without, and was left to guard Yong'an. In the first year of Jianxing he was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief District, granted the tally, and given the added office of Minister of the Household. In the fourth year he was transferred to General of the Van. Since Zhuge Liang intended to lead the army out to Hanzhong and Li Yan was to take charge of affairs in the rear, he moved his garrison to Jiangzhou and left the Army Protector Chen Dao stationed at Yong'an, both of them under Li Yan's command.

章武二年，先主徵嚴詣永安宮，拜尚書令。三年，先主疾病，嚴與諸葛亮並受遺詔輔少主；以嚴為中都護，統內外軍事，留鎮永安。建興元年，封都鄉侯，假節，加光祿勳。四年，轉為前將軍。以諸葛亮欲出軍漢中，嚴當知後事，移屯江州，留護軍陳到駐永安，皆統屬嚴。

Li Yan wrote to Meng Da, “Kongming and I together received the charge of the late sovereign; my cares are deep and my responsibility heavy, and I long for a good companion.” Zhuge Liang also wrote to Meng Da, “To assign duties as smoothly as flowing water and to decide what to take and what to leave without hesitation, that is Zhengfang's nature.” So highly was he esteemed. In the eighth year he was promoted to General of Agile Cavalry. Since Cao Zhen intended to advance on the Han valley by three routes, Zhuge Liang ordered Li Yan to lead twenty thousand men to Hanzhong. Zhuge Liang memorialized that Li Yan's son Li Feng be made Area Commander of Jiangzhou and Army Supervisor, to take charge of Li Yan's affairs in the rear.

嚴與孟達書曰：「吾與孔明俱受寄託，憂深責重，思得良伴。」亮亦與達書曰：「部分如流，趨舍罔滯，正方性也。」其見貴重如此。 ¹八年，遷驃騎將軍。以曹真欲三道向漢川，亮命嚴將二萬人赴漢中。亮表嚴子豐為江州都督督軍，典嚴後事。

Since Zhuge Liang was to lead the army out the following year, he ordered Li Yan, as Protector-General of the Center, to act in charge of the affairs of the Chancellor's office. Li Yan changed his name to Ping.

亮以明年當出軍，命嚴以中都護署府事。嚴改名為平。

In the spring of the ninth year, Zhuge Liang encamped his army at Mount Qi, and Li Ping pressed and supervised the transport of supplies. Between summer and autumn there came heavy continuous rains and the grain transport could not keep up, so Li Ping sent the Adjutant Hu Zhong and the Army Supervisor Cheng Fan to convey his wishes and call Zhuge Liang back; Zhuge Liang complied and withdrew his army. When Li Ping heard that the army had withdrawn, he feigned surprise, saying, “The army's grain was ample; why have you come back so soon?” He wanted thereby to escape blame for his own failure and to expose Zhuge Liang's fault in not advancing. He also memorialized the Latter Ruler, saying, “The army's withdrawal is a feint, meant to lure the enemy into battle.”

九年春，亮軍祁山，平催督運事。秋夏之際，值天霖雨，運糧不繼，平遣參軍狐忠、督軍成籓喻指，呼亮來還；亮承以退軍。平聞軍退，乃更陽驚，說「軍糧饒足，何以便歸」！欲以解己不辦之責，顯亮不進之愆也。又表後主，說「軍偽退，欲以誘賊與戰」。

Zhuge Liang laid out in full, from beginning to end, the letters and dispatches Li Ping had written in his own hand, and Li Ping's contradictions and errors became glaring. At a loss for words and with nothing left to hide, Li Ping bowed his head and confessed his guilt. Zhuge Liang then submitted a memorial concerning Li Ping: “Since the passing of the late Emperor, wherever Li Ping has served he has looked after his own household, dispensing small favors, seeking his own comfort and reputation, and giving no thought to the cares of the state. When I was about to march north, I wished to have Li Ping's troops guard Hanzhong, but Li Ping raised every sort of difficulty and had no intention of coming; instead he asked that five commanderies be formed into Ba Province with himself as its Imperial Protector.

亮具出其前後手筆書疏本末，平違錯章灼。平辭窮情竭，首謝罪負。於是亮表平曰：「自先帝崩後，平所在治家，尚為小惠，安身求名，無憂國之事。臣當北出，欲得平兵以鎮漢中，平窮難縱橫，無有來意，而求以五郡為巴州刺史。

Last year, when I intended to campaign in the west and wished Li Ping to take charge of Hanzhong, Li Ping spoke of how Sima Yi and others had opened offices and were recruiting staff. I knew that Li Ping's base intention was to take advantage of the campaign to press me for his own gain, so I memorialized that his son Li Feng be put in charge of Jiangzhou, and honored and elevated his treatment, in order to accomplish the task of the moment. On the day Li Ping arrived, I entrusted all affairs to him, and officials high and low all wondered at how generously I treated him. It was precisely because the great undertaking was not yet settled and the house of Han was in peril that I judged it better to praise Li Ping than to attack his shortcomings.

去年臣欲西征，欲令平主督漢中，平說司馬懿等開府辟召。臣知平鄙情，欲因行之際偪臣取利也，是以表平子豐督主江州，隆崇其遇，以取一時之務。平至之日，都委諸事，群臣上下皆怪臣待平之厚也。正以大事未定，漢室傾危，伐平之短，莫若褒之。

Yet I thought that Li Ping's heart was set only on honor and profit; I never imagined his mind could be so perverse. If this matter is allowed to drag on, it will bring disaster and ruin. This is due to my own lack of perception, and the more I say, the more my fault grows.” Li Ping was thereupon deposed to commoner status and banished to Zitong Commandery.

然謂平情在於榮利而已，不意平心顛倒乃爾。若事稽留，將致禍敗，是臣不敏，言多增咎。」¹乃廢平為民，徙梓潼郡。 ²

In the twelfth year, when Li Ping heard that Zhuge Liang had died, he fell ill and died. Li Ping had always hoped that Zhuge Liang would restore him in time, and reckoned that those who came after could not, and so he was overcome with bitter grief. Li Feng rose in office to Prefect of Shushi.

十二年，平聞亮卒，發病死。平常冀亮當自補復，策後人不能，故以激憤也。 ¹豐官至朱提太守。 ²

Liu Yan

劉琰

Liu Yan, courtesy name Weishuo, was a man of Lu Commandery. When the First Ruler was in Yu Province, he summoned him as an Attendant Officer. Because he shared the imperial surname, had refined manners and was a skilled conversationalist, the First Ruler treated him with close affection, and he followed the First Ruler on all his travels, always as an honored guest. When the First Ruler settled Yi Province, he made Liu Yan Prefect of Guling. When the Latter Ruler took the throne, Liu Yan was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief District, and his rank at court always came just after Li Yan's. He became Commandant of the Guards, Central Army Adviser and General of the Rear, and was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry.

劉琰字威碩，魯國人也。先主在豫州，辟為從事，以其宗姓，有風流，善談論，厚親待之，遂隨從周旋，常為賓客。先主定益州，以琰為固陵太守。後主立，封都鄉侯，班位每亞李嚴，為衛尉中軍師後將軍，遷車騎將軍。

Yet he took no part in the government of the state; he merely commanded a thousand or so troops and followed Chancellor Zhuge Liang, offering occasional counsel. His carriages, clothing, food and drink were known for their extravagance; his several dozen maidservants were all skilled in song and music, and he also had them all taught to recite the “Rhapsody on the Hall of Numinous Brilliance in Lu.” In the tenth year of Jianxing, he fell out with Wei Yan, Army Adviser of the Van, and spoke wild and baseless words, for which Zhuge Liang reprimanded him. Liu Yan wrote a letter of apology to Zhuge Liang: “By nature I am empty and hollow, and my conduct has always been shallow; on top of this I suffer from a weakness for drink. Ever since the time of the late Emperor, a clamor of criticism has almost brought me to ruin.

然不豫國政，但領兵千餘，隨丞相亮諷議而已。車服飲食，號為侈靡，侍婢數十，皆能為聲樂，又悉教誦讀魯靈光殿賦。建興十年，與前軍師魏延不和，言語虛誕，亮責讓之。琰與亮箋謝曰：「琰禀性空虛，本薄操行，加有酒荒之病，自先帝以來，紛紜之論，殆將傾覆。

Your Excellency, taking as the root of the matter my single-hearted devotion to the state and pardoning the filth within me, has supported me and kept me whole, and granted me salary and rank to this very day. Recently, in a drunken stupor, I spoke wrongly; yet in your compassion you bore with me and did not hand me over to the law, so that I might keep my life intact. I shall surely discipline myself and reproach my own conduct, correct my faults and give my life, and I swear this before the spirits. Were there no occasion to give my life, I would have nowhere to show my face.” Zhuge Liang then sent Liu Yan back to Chengdu, with his offices and rank unchanged.

頗蒙明公本其一心在國，原其身中穢垢，扶持全濟，致其祿位，以至今日。間者迷醉，言有違錯，慈恩含忍，不致之於理，使得全完，保育性命。雖必克己責躬，改過投死，以誓神靈；無所用命，則靡寄顏。」於是亮遣琰還成都，官位如故。

Liu Yan lost heart and lived in a daze. In the first month of the twelfth year, Liu Yan's wife Lady Hu went to the palace to pay New Year's respects to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager specially kept her there; only after a month did she come out. Lady Hu was beautiful, and Liu Yan suspected her of an affair with the Latter Ruler. He called his runners to flog her and went so far as to strike her in the face with a shoe, and then cast her out. Lady Hu brought a full accusation against Liu Yan, and he was charged and thrown into prison. The officials in charge ruled, “Soldiers are not the men to flog a wife, and a face is not the place to receive a shoe.” Liu Yan was in the end executed in the marketplace. From then on the practice of ministers' wives and mothers attending court to offer congratulations ceased.

琰失志慌惚。十二年正月，琰妻胡氏入賀太后，太后令特留胡氏，經月乃出。胡氏有美色，琰疑其與後主有私，呼五百撾胡，至於以履搏面，而後棄遣。胡具以告言琰，琰坐下獄。有司議曰：「卒非撾妻之人，面非受履之地。」琰竟棄市。自是大臣妻母朝慶遂絕。

Wei Yan

魏延

Wei Yan, courtesy name Wenchang, was a man of Yiyang. He followed the First Ruler into Shu with his own retainers and, having won merit in battle many times, was promoted to General of the Standard. When the First Ruler became King of Hanzhong and moved his seat to Chengdu, he needed a senior general to guard the Han valley. General opinion held that it would surely be Zhang Fei, and Zhang Fei too expected it in his heart. The First Ruler, however, promoted Wei Yan to Commander of Hanzhong and General Who Guards Distant Regions, concurrently Prefect of Hanzhong, and the whole army was astonished.

魏延字文長，義陽人也。以部曲隨先主入蜀，數有戰功，遷牙門將軍。先主爲漢中王，遷治成都，當得重將以鎮漢川，眾論以爲必在張飛，飛亦以心自許。先主乃拔延爲督漢中鎮遠將軍，領漢中太守，一軍盡驚。

The First Ruler held a great gathering of his officials and asked Wei Yan, “Now that I entrust you with this heavy responsibility, what do you mean to do in the post?” Wei Yan replied, “If Cao Cao comes with the whole realm behind him, I ask to hold him off for Your Majesty; if a subordinate general comes with a hundred thousand men, I ask to swallow them up for Your Majesty.” The First Ruler praised his answer, and everyone admired the boldness of his words. When the First Ruler assumed the imperial title, Wei Yan was promoted to General Who Guards the North. In the first year of Jianxing he was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. In the fifth year, when Zhuge Liang was stationed at Hanzhong, he further made Wei Yan Commander of the Vanguard, concurrently Major to the Chancellor and Imperial Protector of Liang Province. In the eighth year he sent Wei Yan west into the Qiang lands. Wei's General of the Rear Fei Yao and Guo Huai, Imperial Protector of Yong Province, fought Wei Yan at Yangxi, and Wei Yan crushed Guo Huai and the others. He was promoted to Army Adviser of the Van and Grand General Who Attacks the West, granted the tally, and advanced in fief to Marquis of Nanzheng.

先主大會群臣，問延曰：「今委卿以重任，卿居之欲云何？」延對曰：「若曹操舉天下而來，請爲大王拒之；偏將十萬之眾至，請爲大王吞之。」先主稱善，眾咸壯其言。先主踐尊號，進拜鎮北將軍。建興元年，封都亭侯。五年，諸葛亮駐漢中，更以延爲督前部，領丞相司馬、涼州刺史，八年，使延西入羌中，魏後將軍費瑤、雍州刺史郭淮與延戰於陽谿，延大破淮等，遷爲前軍師、征西大將軍，假節，進封南鄭侯。

Every time Wei Yan went out on campaign with Zhuge Liang, he would ask for ten thousand troops to take a separate route and join Zhuge Liang at Tong Pass, as Han Xin had once done, but Zhuge Liang restrained him and would not allow it. Wei Yan always called Zhuge Liang timid and lamented bitterly that his own talents were not put to full use. Wei Yan was good at caring for his soldiers and surpassed others in courage, but he was proud and haughty by nature, and the men of the time all gave way to him. Only Yang Yi would make no allowances for Wei Yan, and Wei Yan resented him intensely; the two were like water and fire. In the twelfth year, when Zhuge Liang went out by the Northern Valley mouth, Wei Yan led the vanguard.

延每隨亮出，輒欲請兵萬人，與亮異道會於潼關，如韓信故事，亮制而不許。延常謂亮爲怯，嘆恨己才用之不盡。 ¹延既善養士卒，勇猛過人，又性矜高，當時皆避下之。唯楊儀不假借延，延以爲至忿，有如水火。十二年，亮出北谷口，延爲前鋒。

Ten li out from Zhuge Liang's camp, Wei Yan dreamed that horns grew on his head. He asked the dream-reader Zhao Zhi about it, and Zhao Zhi deceived Wei Yan, saying, “The qilin has horns but does not use them. This is a sign that the enemy will be destroyed of itself without a battle.” But when he withdrew, he told others, “The character for ‘horn’ (角) is made of ‘knife’ (刀) above ‘use’ (用). To use a knife on the head: nothing could be more ominous.”

出亮營十里，延夢頭上生角，以問占夢趙直，直詐延曰：「夫麒麟有角而不用，此不戰而賊欲自破之像也。」退而告人曰： 「角之爲字，刀下用也；頭上用刀，其凶甚矣。」

In autumn, when Zhuge Liang's illness became grave, he secretly laid down with the Chief Clerk Yang Yi, the Major Fei Yi, the Army Protector Jiang Wei and others the arrangements for withdrawing the army after his death: Wei Yan was to cut off the rear, with Jiang Wei next to him, and if Wei Yan should not obey orders, the army was to set out on its own. As soon as Zhuge Liang died, his death was kept secret and no mourning was announced, and Yang Yi sent Fei Yi to sound out Wei Yan's intentions. Wei Yan said, “Though the Chancellor is gone, I am still here. The Chancellor's close staff and officials can escort the coffin home for burial, while I myself lead the armies to strike the enemy. How can the affairs of the realm be abandoned because one man has died?

秋，亮病困，密與長史楊儀、司馬費禕、護軍姜維等作身歿之後退軍節度，令延斷後，姜維次之；若延或不從命，軍便自發。亮適卒，秘不發喪，儀令禕往揣延意指。延曰：「丞相雖亡，吾自見在。府親官屬便可將喪還葬，吾自當率諸軍擊賊，云何以一人死廢天下之事邪？

Besides, who do you take me, Wei Yan, to be, that I should be put under Yang Yi's orders and made the general of the rearguard!” He then worked out with Fei Yi which units would march and which would stay, and had Fei Yi write it out in his own hand with both their names signed together, to be sent down to the generals. Fei Yi deceived Wei Yan, saying, “I shall go back on your behalf and win over Chief Clerk Yang. The Chief Clerk is a civil official with little experience of military affairs; he will surely not disobey the order.” As soon as Fei Yi was out of the gate he galloped away. Wei Yan soon regretted it, but by the time he gave chase he could no longer catch him. Wei Yan sent men to spy on Yang Yi and the others, and found that they meant to follow Zhuge Liang's established plan, with the camps withdrawing their troops one after another.

且魏延何人，當爲楊儀所部勒，作斷後將乎！」因與禕共作行留部分，令禕手書與己連名，告下諸將。禕紿延曰：「當爲君還解楊長史，長史文吏，稀更軍事，必不違命也。」禕出門馳馬而去，延尋悔，追之已不及矣。延遣人覘儀等，遂使欲案亮成規，諸營相次引軍還。

Wei Yan was furious. Before Yang Yi had set out, he led his own troops straight south ahead of the rest, burning and cutting the plank roads wherever he passed. Wei Yan and Yang Yi each memorialized that the other had rebelled, and within a single day urgent dispatches arrived one after another. The Latter Ruler asked the Palace Attendant Dong Yun and Jiang Wan, Chief Clerk in charge of the Chancellor's office at the capital, and both Jiang Wan and Dong Yun vouched for Yang Yi and suspected Wei Yan. Yang Yi and the others cut through the mountain forests to open a road and marched day and night, following behind Wei Yan. Wei Yan arrived first and occupied the Southern Valley mouth, sending troops to attack Yang Yi and the others head-on; Yang Yi and his colleagues had He Ping (Wang Ping) go in front to hold off Wei Yan.

延大怒，儀未發，率所領徑先南歸，所過燒絶閣道。延、儀各相表叛逆，一日之中，羽檄交至。後主以問侍中董允、留府長史蔣琬，琬、允咸保儀疑延。儀等槎山通道，晝夜兼行，亦繼延後。延先至，據南谷口，遣兵逆擊儀等，儀等令何平在前禦延。

He Ping shouted at Wei Yan's vanguard, “His Excellency has died and his body is not yet cold; how dare you behave like this!” Wei Yan's soldiers knew that the wrong lay with Wei Yan, and none would fight for him; his army scattered entirely. Wei Yan fled alone with several of his sons and made for Hanzhong. Yang Yi sent Ma Dai to pursue and behead him, and his head was delivered to Yang Yi. Yang Yi rose and stamped on it himself, saying, “Worthless slave! Can you do any more evil now?” He then exterminated Wei Yan's kin to the third degree. Earlier, Jiang Wan had led the camps of the palace guard north to meet the crisis; when he had gone several tens of li, news of Wei Yan's death arrived, and he turned back.

平叱延先登曰：「公亡，身尚未寒，汝輩何敢乃爾！」延士眾知曲在延，莫爲用命，軍皆散。延獨與其子數人逃亡，奔漢中。儀遣馬岱追斬之，致首於儀，儀起自踏之，曰：「庸奴！復能作惡不？」遂夷延三族。初，蔣琬率宿衞諸營赴難北行，行數十里，延死問至，乃旋。

If we examine Wei Yan's intent, the reason he did not go north to surrender to Wei but returned south was only that he wished to be rid of Yang Yi and the others and kill them. Since he had never been on good terms with the other generals, he hoped that public opinion of the day would surely have him succeed Zhuge Liang. Such was his real purpose; it was not rebellion.

原延意不北降魏而南還者，但欲除殺儀等。平日諸將素不同，冀時論必當以代亮。本指如此。不便背叛。 ¹

Yang Yi

楊儀

Yang Yi, courtesy name Weigong, was a man of Xiangyang. During the Jian'an era he became Registrar to Fu Qun, Imperial Protector of Jing Province, but he turned his back on Fu Qun and went to Guan Yu, Prefect of Xiangyang. Guan Yu made him Officer of Merit and sent him west as an envoy to the First Ruler. The First Ruler discussed with him strategy for the army and state and the merits and faults of government, and was greatly pleased with him, so he summoned him as Clerk of the Bureau of Military Affairs under the General of the Left. When the First Ruler became King of Hanzhong, he promoted Yang Yi to Master of Writing.

楊儀字威公，襄陽人也。建安中，為荊州刺史傅群主簿，背群而詣襄陽太守關羽。羽命為功曹，遣奉使西詣先主。先主與語論軍國計策，政治得失，大悅之，因辟為左將軍兵曹掾。及先主為漢中王，拔儀為尚書。

When the First Ruler took the imperial title and marched east against Wu, Yang Yi fell out with the Director of the Secretariat Liu Ba and was demoted, being appointed Prefect of Hongnong in name only. In the third year of Jianxing, Chancellor Zhuge Liang made him Adjutant and put him in charge of the affairs of his office, as he was about to march south. In the fifth year he followed Zhuge Liang to Hanzhong. In the eighth year he was promoted to Chief Clerk, with the added title of General Who Pacifies the Army. Whenever Zhuge Liang led the army out, Yang Yi always planned the disposition of units and calculated the grain supplies, never lingering over his deliberations but settling everything in a moment.

先主稱尊號，東征吳，儀與尚書令劉巴不睦，左遷遙署弘農太守。建興三年，丞相亮以為參軍，署府事，將南行。五年，隨亮漢中。八年，遷長史，加綏軍將軍。亮數出軍，儀常規畫分部，籌度糧穀，不稽思慮，斯須便了。

The arrangements and orders of the army were all left to Yang Yi to handle. Zhuge Liang deeply valued Yang Yi's ability and relied on Wei Yan's valor, and though he always regretted the enmity between the two, he could not bear to cast either one aside. In the twelfth year, Yang Yi followed Zhuge Liang out and encamped at the valley mouth. Zhuge Liang died in the field facing the enemy. Having brought the army back and also destroyed Wei Yan, Yang Yi considered his merit to be supreme and thought he ought to succeed Zhuge Liang in running the government. He called the Commandant Zhao Zheng to divine by the Book of Changes, and the hexagram that came up was Jiaren (The Family); he fell silent and was displeased.

軍戎節度，取辦於儀。亮深惜儀之才幹，憑魏延之驍勇，常恨二人之不平，不忍有所偏廢也。十二年，隨亮出屯谷口。亮卒於敵場。儀既領軍還，又誅討延，自以為功勳至大，宜當代亮秉政，呼都尉趙正以周易筮之，卦得家人，默然不悅。

But Zhuge Liang's private intention during his lifetime had been otherwise: considering Yang Yi narrow and irascible by nature, he had Jiang Wan in mind, and so Jiang Wan became Director of the Secretariat and Imperial Protector of Yi Province. On his arrival Yang Yi was appointed Central Army Adviser, with nothing under his command, and merely passed his time at leisure.

而亮平生密指，以儀性狷狹，意在蔣琬，琬遂為尚書令、益州刺史。儀至，拜為中軍師，無所統領，從容而已。

Earlier, when Yang Yi was Master of Writing under the First Ruler, Jiang Wan had been a Gentleman of the Secretariat. Later, though both became Adjutant and Chief Clerk to the Chancellor, it was always Yang Yi who followed the campaigns and bore the hardest labors. He thought himself senior to Jiang Wan in age and office and superior to him in talent, so his resentment and anger showed in his voice and face, and sighs and cries of rage burst from the depths of his being. People at the time feared his unrestrained speech and none dared keep company with him; only Fei Yi, Army Adviser of the Rear, went to comfort and visit him. Before Fei Yi, Yang Yi poured out his grievances at length, and further said to him, “Back when the Chancellor died, if I had taken the army over to the Wei, would I be left in such a sorry state in the world as this?

初，儀為先主尚書，琬為尚書郎，後雖俱為丞相參軍長史，儀每從行，當其勞劇，自惟年宦先琬，才能逾之，於是怨憤形於聲色，嘆吒之音發於五內。時人畏其言語不節，莫敢從也，惟後軍師費禕往慰省之。儀對禕恨望，前後云云，又語禕曰：「往者丞相亡沒之際，吾若舉軍以就魏氏，處世寧當落度如此邪！

It fills me with regret, but it is too late now.” Fei Yi secretly reported his words in a memorial. In the thirteenth year, Yang Yi was deposed to commoner status and banished to Hanjia Commandery. On reaching the place of exile he again submitted a letter full of slander, in terms so vehement that an order was finally sent down to the commandery to arrest him. Yang Yi killed himself, and his wife and children returned to Shu.

令人追悔不可復及。」禕密表其言。十三年，廢儀為民，徙漢嘉郡。儀至徙所，復上書誹謗，辭指激切，遂下郡收儀。儀自殺，其妻子還蜀。 ¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Liu Feng stood in a position open to suspicion, yet his precautions were not enough to protect himself. Peng Yang and Liao Li were raised up for their talent; Li Yan rose high through his capacity for managing affairs; Wei Yan was entrusted with office for his courage and strategy; Yang Yi made his name by his conduct in office; and Liu Yan was an old retainer. All of them were held in high esteem. Yet when we examine their conduct and trace the pattern of their behavior, the disaster they brought on themselves and the blame they incurred came, without exception, from their own doing.

評曰：劉封處嫌疑之地，而思防不足以自衛。彭羕、廖立以才拔進，李嚴以幹局達，魏延以勇略任，楊儀以當官顯，劉琰舊仕，並咸貴重。覽其舉措，跡其規矩，招禍取咎，無不自己也。